SAN BERNARDINO, California – Full contact auto racing returns to Orange Show Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 26, with the second Destruction Derby of the year supplying the finishing touches to a full night of competition on the quarter-mile oval.
The unique ASA Modifieds will headline the six-division program that includes the ASA Street Stocks, Pony Stocks, Sport Trucks, Sport Compacts and another visit from the touring Stock Cars USA series.
Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. and the first race is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children 6 through 12. Parking is $4, with the entrance off Mill Street at Gate 3.
The activity for the weekend will begin with an open practice at 5 p.m. Friday, at a cost of $30 per person.
As each of the track’s ASA-sanctioned divisions enters the final portion of its season, various scenarios are developing with respect to the point races.
The closest fight among the divisions that will be in action this weekend is in the Street Stock class, where four drivers still have a chance to win the championship with four of the 10 races remaining. Multi-time titlist Johnny Russo used a win in last weekend’s (Aug. 19) main event to take the lead from Big Bear neighbor Cliff Conklin, 274-268. Riverside’s Ted Reich, third last weekend, has 266 points and Nathan Gruwell of Yorba Linda 256, with a maximum of 50 points available in each main event.
In the ASA Modified class, Michael Jackson of Bonita has parlayed one win and a string of consistent top five finishes into what appears to be an insurmountable lead, 322-276, over Jason Patison of Corona. Patison, who has missed one race, is just two points ahead of three-time winner Doug Carpenter, of La Mesa, who also has missed a race.
Riverside’s Jim Mardis, with three straight wins and six in eight races, leads Matt Goodwin of Wildomar, 374-354, with five races to go in the Stock Pony class. Jim Edmiston of Highland, who won last weekend, has a 388-370 lead over San Bernardino’s Jeff Imbriani in the Sport Truck class, which will be racing for the fourth week in a row. Jim Holland of Fontana leads Moreno Valley’s Gerritt Hodge, 268-252, in the Sport Compact division, which has been idle since July 22.
Harry Michaelian of Redondo Beach, a former track regular, won the most recent round of the Stock Cars USA series at Orange Show Speedway Aug. 12 and boasts a 324-260 lead over Dave Foster of Riverside and Jimmy Rouse of San Bernardino, who are tied for second.
The Destruction Derby, at one time a popular staple on the speedway schedule, made its return July 15 after a three-year absence and helped attract a crowd of 1863 despite heat in excess of 100 degrees. The derby is the ultimate survival test, with the last man standing (or the last car rolling) being declared the winner. In the return to the speedway, that was San Bernardino’s Steve Cook, who appropriately enough is sponsored by Downtown Auto Wrecking.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Leno’s Rico Taco, Blackhawk Protection, CEC Embroidery, Golden West Tire, Lucas Oil, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Sunoco Racing Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tires, Center Chevrolet, Pick A Part, Neff Rental, Pepsi, Loma Linda University Medical Center, J&M Trophy, Matich Corp., Lazer Radio (101.7 and 105.7 FM), La Salle Medical Associates, California Highway Patrol, KCAL radio (96.7 FM) and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper.
For further information, call 909-888-6788, X438, or visit the speedway web site at www.nationalorangeshow.com/speedway.htm.
